Neighbourhood Small Business Grant

We are currently not acceppting application as we are reviewing the 2017 intake. Please check back in 2018 for another opporunity.

Four $5,000 grants are available to support the launch of small businesses in United Way Priority Neighbourhoods across Windsor and Essex County.

United Way currently funds four neighbourhood engagement programs and an integral part of neighbourhood revival is thriving small businesses within communities. As a natural evolution of these efforts, the grants will support businesses looking to open in these priority areas in Windsor and targeted areas in the County: Uptown Leamington, Essex Centre and Harrow.

THE PURPOSE:To encourage growth of small businesses in Priority Neighbourhoods across Windsor-Essex County as a part of broad-based community and economic revitalization.

BENEFITS:

Training opportunities to applicants to support local entrepreneurship provided by the Windsor-Essex Small Business Centre.

All business plans will be vetted by the organization’s staff to ensure their rigor, with opportunities to fill gaps in applications through training or supports being provided before final submissions are made.

REQUIREMENTS:

A completed business plan with accompanying financials;

Evidence of commercial space being secured in one of the priority areas (letter of intent with a landlord, conditional lease or sale agreement, or completed lease or sale agreement);

And a signed community benefits agreement with an agency(s) or group(s) in the priority neighbourhood. Community Benefits are an important part of this grant. In the context of this project, the expectation for applicants is for them to provide in-kind service or volunteerism to support community and become a champion and anchor in their neighbourhood. This will provide both for the community and help promote their business.

DEADLINE:All applications and supporting material must be submitted by July 1, 2017.

FUNDING PROCESS:The grants will be awarded based on the merits of their applications, their alignment with the eligibility and the scope and breadth of their community benefit agreements with the neighbourhood. The selection will occur in 2 stages: first, in each neighbourhood a selection committee will be formed made up of a number of residents, local BIA representatives, local politicians, United Way and Small Business Centre staff. These neighbourhood committees will score and refer top candidates to a regional table made up of a representative elected from each neighbourhood table, the heads of United Way and Small Business Centre, and potentially other distinguished dignitaries who will make the final determinations on the grant winners. These tables will be formalized over the coming months while application process is underway.